There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it.

Drama is life with the dull bits left out.

In the documentary the basic material has been created by God, whereas in the fiction film the director is the god; he must create life.

A murder without gleaming scissors is like asparagus without the hollandaise sauce - tasteless.

When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, 'It's in the script.' If he says, "But what's my motivation?" I say, 'Your salary.'

There is nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.

Then Madam I suggest you have her dry cleaned. To a woman who complained that the shower scene so frightened her daughter that the girl would no longer shower

The length of the film should be directly related to the endurance of human bladder.

I never said actors were cattle. All I said is that actors should be treated as cattle.

I'm a philanthropist: I give people what they want. People love being horrified, terrified.

In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director.

Blondes make the best victims. They’re like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints. 20 February 1977

Give them pleasure — the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare.

Seeing a murder on television can … help work off one’s antagonisms. And if you haven’t any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some. 15 August 1966

One of television’s great contributions is that it brought murder back into the home, where it belongs. 15 August 1966

I’m frightened of eggs, worse than frightened, they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes … have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid? Blood is jolly, red. But egg yolk is yellow, revolting. I’ve never tasted it.

Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.

I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach. 11 June 1956

Some movies are slices of life. Mine are slices of cake...

Walt Disney has the best casting system. If he don't like an actor, he just tears him up.

There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.

To me Psycho was a big comedy. Had to be.

This paperback is very interesting, but I find it will never replace a hardcover book -- it makes a very poor doorstop.

They like to put their toe in the cold water of fear. On why people were fond of his thrillers

In films murders are always very clean. I show how difficult it is and what a messy thing it is to kill a man.